The announcement by deputy minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Chua Tee Yong on the formation of the Malaysian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is not to be gleefully feted. This said committee was first officially mooted last year following the barbaric shooting of a dog by the Ipoh City Council.
At a preliminary meeting on November 16th, 2010, the Director General of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Dr. Aziz Jamaluddin brazenly announced a ban on all dog shooting. But that announcement was merely a farce designed to deceive. The ban was destined to be binned from the beginning! On 27th September 2011, the Ipoh City Council repeated the exact same criminal act with the booming consent of Ipoh Mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim.
As always, the volley of banal statements, announcements and promises made by the authorities have no legitimate bearing on actual issues concerning animal welfare. This shiny new committee, to be headed by minister Noh Omar, cites amongst its objectives “proposing humane methods of dog catching and stray dog control, promoting responsible pet ownership and controlling abuse”. The committee endeavours to “work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pet owners, would cover every aspect of animal welfare, including pets and wildlife”.
These proposed objectives and operations are facetious given that NGO’s have for years been offering the government salient advice and recommendations on how to deal with these very matters. But myriads of meetings and countless curry puffs later, animals are still being brutalised daily.
The ministry is currently awaiting Parliament's approval on amendments to the Animal Act 1953. The proposed amendments entail enhanced fines and prison terms. But mere amendments are of no worth. The absence of effective enforcement remains the primary issue.
If the incessant animal abuse cases aren’t enough to galvanize the authorities into taking action, what then is the purpose of setting up this committee? Do enforcement agencies need “advise” on the criminality of shooting dogs or starving cats? Does it necessitate an entire committee to mull taking action against those who violate laws and commit heinous inhumanities against animals?
Barely a fortnight ago, Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam announced his latest tourism “product”: a bird park in Ayer Keroh, housing 6,000 birds from 300 species! Is the government so drained of tourism initiatives that spending millions of ringgit developing yet another animal holding facility is the best idea it can flush out?
Animals are not mere commodities to be peddled and pimped for profit. A consideration which we should do well to bear in mind is the horrendous conditions in which animals are being subjected to in Malaysian zoos.
It beggars belief given the recent spate of confiscations and seizures from these zoos, that the Wildlife department would allow yet another animal exhibit to commence operations.
Assuming the animal welfare committee is genuine in its aims; will it register its protest against this superfluous RM30 million bird park? Will the committee demand an explanation from the Wildlife department pertaining to permits for this proposed facility which will undoubtedly house hundreds of protected species? Will they recommend that the state government instead present the land to the wildlife department to house the many animals they confiscated from existing zoos, including A’Famosa in Melaka? Would the committee seek to counsel the Chief Minister against the bird park and instead consider channelling its funds to the government run Melaka zoo, which is in dire need of space and facilities? Will it push for prosecutions of all outstanding abuse cases? Will it redress unjust administrative policies against animal welfare? Will it address and confront violations by its own government?
If this committee lacks the resolve to tackle inherent infractions of the government itself and remain amorally indifferent towards animals, then eradicating animal cruelty will remain an illusory goal. An animal welfare committee that is unwilling to bound, bark or bite, will play absolutely no role in the fight against animal cruelty and will inevitably facilitate further acts of abuse.
It then compels the conclusion that this committee of government underlings and sycophantic NGO’s is merely an artifice to curtail criticism and not combat cruelty!
* The writer is President, Malaysian Animal Welfare Society |
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